Coinbase is making a major change to how Bitcoin and Ethereum futures work in the United States by launching 24/7 trading, eliminating the restrictions of fixed market hours, according to an announcement on its blog post today.
This change, confirmed by Coinbase Derivatives LLC, will allow traders to open, manage, and close futures positions at any time, just like in international markets.
Derivatives trading dominates the global crypto market, making up 75% of total trading volume, but most of that activity happens outside the U.S. where markets never close.
U.S. traders have been forced to sit on the sidelines when traditional markets are shut down, unable to react in real-time to price swings.
Coinbase says the decision is driven by demand from crypto-native U.S. clients who need unrestricted access to futures markets. In its blog post, the company says it’s planning to make regulated futures trading more transparent, competitive, and accessible.
Right now, U.S. futures markets run on a schedule that doesn’t match the 24/7 nature of crypto. This has caused inefficiencies, especially for traders managing exposure in a market that never sleeps.
By introducing around-the-clock futures trading, Coinbase is removing these limitations and giving U.S. traders full control over their positions at all times, as they will be able to access different contract sizes, with options for both retail and institutional traders.
The goal is to align U.S. futures trading with how global crypto markets already operate.
“A regulated perpetual-style contract in the US ensures traders can execute strategies efficiently, without relying on offshore alternatives,” said Coinbase.
Right now, U.S. traders don’t have access to the kind of perpetual futures offered in international markets. Coinbase is reportedly working to introduce a regulated version of these contracts, which will allow traders to maintain long-term positions without expiration dates.
Coinbase says it is working with the CFTC and market participants to make sure the product meets regulatory requirements. The company has also been expanding its network of FCMs (Futures Commission Merchants) and institutional partners to support the upcoming product.
Crypto perpetual products are seemingly on the rise globally. As Cryptopolitan reported just a few hours ago, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) is also preparing to launch Bitcoin perpetual futures in the second half of 2025.
As for Coinbase, its CEO Brian Armstrong has become one of the closest crypto allies of the Trump administration right now. Brian donated millions to Trump’s campaign and inauguration and was also invited to the White House crypto summit last Friday where he sat very close to the president himself.
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